T. R. Smith, comp. Poetica Erotica: Rare and Curious Amatory Verse. 1921–22.
A Logical Song
Anonymous(From The Festival of Love, 1789) WHY, Chloe, thus squander your prime! | |
| In debate between fear and temptation? | |
| If adulterous love be a crime, | |
| Why quarrel with plain fornication? | |
| But your beauties with age you may lose; | 5 |
| Then seize the short moment of joy! | |
| If not—then with confidence use, | |
| What by using you cannot destroy. | |
| Come, come, bid our transports begin, | |
| Ere we lose both our youth and our leisure; | 10 |
| Sure ’tis better repenting a sin, | |
| Than regretting loss of a pleasure. | |